Rotator Placeholder Image
 
 

Listening To How We Can Improve Dementia Care

Thursday 28th April 2011

Listening to frontline staff, patients and carers is an important part of making sure older people's mental health services in Derbyshire are of the highest quality and effectively meet patients' needs.

This is why around 160 nurses, health care assistants, carers and therapists - as well as patients and families affected by dementia - were invited to share ideas and suggestions for developing services for Older People with Mental Health (OPMH) problems in Derbyshire's community hospitals.

The newly established Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust hosted a series of eight engagement events during the first two weeks in April, bringing together people from OPMH wards at Walton, Newholme and Cavendish Hospitals as well as day hospitals at Clay Cross, Bolsover and Stanton.

Patrick Murphy, General Manager for Older People's Mental Health Services at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: "I wanted to involve staff, patients and carers who experience our services directly, to share ideas and talk about how we ensure our services continue to provide the very best care for people in our local communities. A lot of really useful information has come out of these sessions which will become part of our new service strategy."

Older People’s Mental Health Services are vital for an ageing population, with diagnosed cases of dementia rising and many more people thought to be in the early stages of the illness when diagnosis can be difficult.  In 2007 there were 9,184 diagnosed dementia patients in Derbyshire.

By 2021 it is estimated there will be more than 13,350 diagnosed cases across the county - with up to twice as many again in the undiagnosed early stages of the illness.

One patient in her mid-50s spoke about living with an early diagnosis of dementia. She said: "I take every opportunity to tell my story and to get people to understand that dementia is a disease and a much more varied disease than the image that most people hold of it."

The engagement sessions were facilitated by Jill Guild, a former regional strategy advisor on dementia services. Staff and families affected by dementia will be given a voice in service developments in Derbyshire in the longer term too, with a new Staff and Service User Reference Group for older people's mental health services being set up.

High Peak Advocacy Volunteer Monica Backhouse, was one of those attending. She said: "I was really impressed by the conscientious and hard working staff who I met at my session."

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECENT STORIES

CHESTERFIELD DENTISTS FACE STANDARDS TEST -
As National Smile Month begins, all 126 of NHS Derbyshire's dental practices are now signed up to the National Care Quality Commission Scheme More...

THE ROYAL LEADS IN STROKE CARE -
Stroke care at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital is the best in the East Midlands and amongst the best in the country. More...

TOP DERBYSHIRE DOCTOR 'FACE' OF NEW NHS CAMPAIGN -
A top Derbyshire doctor has been chosen as one of the faces of a new campaign to encourage NHS staff to plan for their own future care. More...

LOCAL GPS IN LANDMARK TALKS ON NHS REFORM -
A landmark event discussing the future of the local NHS takes place Wednesday 11th May at the Chesterfield Hotel, 2pm to 4pm. More...

NOVOVIRUS CLOSES WARD -
Chesterfield Royal Hospital is today urging people to watch out for the signs of Norovirus after an outbreak leads to a ward closure. More...

NO DECISIONS ABOUT YOU, WITHOUT YOU -
A landmark event, aimed at helping shape the future of the local NHS is to take place at the B2net on 5th May. More...

LOCAL GP'S TRIAL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS -
A Scheme that aims to help GP practices spend more time with patients is currently being trialled at a Derbyshire medical centre. More...

10 FINGERS, 10 TOES, 10 YEARS -
The Chesterfield Royal Hospital has announced that once again it has been awarded Baby Friendly status. More...

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AT ROYAL -
The Chesterfield Royal Hospital is once again holding a Service of Remembrance for parents who have lost their children. More...

CHOCOLATE TREASURE FOR SICK CHILDREN -
An 'egg-citing' (sorry!) time for sick children in hospital over Easter after a local company donated 164 Easter eggs and a bag of balloons to Nightingale Ward to help celebrate Easter More...

HEALTHY START FOR LOCAL LOW INCOME FAMILIES -
Pregnant women and families on a low income are today urged to take advantage of a free healthy vitamin scheme run by their local Chesterfield children's centre. More...

ILL HEALTH ADVICE OVER EASTER -
Patients are being urged to phone their own GP surgery should they need to see a doctor out of hours during the Easter break. More...

AMBULANCE SERVICE FACES £5m PENALTY -
It's 'highly likely' that a £5m penalty will be applied to East Midlands Ambulance Service after failing to meet national response requirements last financial year. More...

PCT CLUSTER CHIEF EXEC APPOINTMENT -
Derbyshire Primary Care Trust Cluster now has a new Chief Executive after the appointment of David Sharp... More...

CRICKETER YARDY'S DEPRESSION AN EXAMPLE TO US ALL -
England cricketer Michael Yardy's decision to open up about his prolonged battle with mental illness proves there's never a wrong time to start fighting depression. More...

PARKING CHANGES AT THE ROYAL -
There's space for change at Chesterfield Royal Hospital - 50 spaces in fact! More...

H-A-P-P-Y
A report out yesterday suggests that staff morale within the NHS Derbyshire County remains among the highest throughout the NHS. More...

COUNTY'S DENTISTS CHAMPION PATIENT SCHEME -
Almost half of Derbyshire County's dentists are now championing a national scheme proving their commitment to patient care. More...

THE ROYAL GOES GLOBAL -
After conquering Facebook, the Chesterfield Royal Hospital has now reached another social networking milestone with its 1,000th YouTube viewing. More...

SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE -
A 4 month long review of the future of children’s congenital heart services is about to begin in England and the NHS is seeking the views of people in Chesterfield. More...

ROYAL INSPECTION FOR HOSPITAL -
The Royal Hospital at Calow lived up to its name on Friday as it welcomed HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. More...

A ROYAL VISITS THE ROYAL -
Chesterfield Royal Hospital announced today that HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will perform the official opening of the new £12m development More...

KICK THIS BUG INTO TOUCH -
Chesterfield FC and nurses from Derbyshire Community Health Services have joined forces to give one of the most virulent and severe winter bugs the 'Red Card'. More...

MODERN MAKEOVER PUTS STROKE PATIENTS FIRST -
Over 450 stroke patients in Chesterfield are to benefit from a £1.4m purpose-built facility for stroke sufferers will soon open at the Royal. More...

BLOOD DRAW TO SCORE DRAW -
A local donor who was one of the first to give blood at the new B2 NET stadium was Guest of Honour to see The Spireites grab a draw in the dying minutes of the game against Bradford on Saturday. More...

MORE FANS FOR ROYAL HOSPITAL -
A few weeks ago Chesterfield Hospital was appealing for friends on Facebook - now they're proud to announce they have fans of a different kind. More...

FLU ADVICE -
As swine flu cases once again begin to rise, Chesterfield Royal hospital is advising people who think they, or someone they know may have the illness to visit their website in the first instance for further advice. More...

STROKE SERVICES SHOWCASED AT HOSPITAL -
The statistics are frightening - around 150 000 people have a stroke every year, it's the largest form of disability and the 3rd most common cause of death in the UK More...

WHEN A CHILD IS BORN -
There were bumper bundles of joy at Chesterfield Royal Hospital on Christmas Day after 7 mums gave birth. More...

DON'T TAKE RISKS WHEN WALKING HOME-
As we're all out enjoying the Christmas Spirit, there's a warning that we need to take care whilst walking home. More...

MORE MRSA SCREENINGS THAN EVER BEFORE AT ROYAL -
The Chesterfield Royal Hospital has announced today that it has extended its MRSA screening programme to include emergency patients. More...

ROYAL GETS DIGITAL TONIC -
Chesterfield Royal Hospital is appealing for friends today. It's become one of the first trusts in the UK to set up a facebook profile More...

GIVE BLOOD, GIVE LIFE -
As Christmas approaches, the NHS Blood Transfusion Service is asking people in Chesterfield to think about giving one free but valuable gift this Christmas and donate a pint of blood. More...

NEW ERA FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH AS NEW UNIT OPENS -
A ground breaking Woman's Health Unit has opened today at the Chesterfield Royal and hopes to change the way the hospital provides gynaecology nursing and medical care. More...

HOSPITAL MAKE CONTINGENCY PLANS AHEAD OF WINTER -
Although it’s only just November, Chesterfield Royal say they are already seeing a rise in admissions due to "winter illnesses" More...

YOUR HOSPITAL NEEDS YOU! -
North Derbyshire's patients are being asked to tell Chesterfield Royal how it can improve it's services. More...


News   Community   Sport   Offers & Events   Leisure / Reviews   Public Services
Chesterfield Cranes